3 Stans of Central Asia

Key information Countries visited: Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan Duration: 15 days / 14 nights Best season: March – June, August - October Tour type: Small group / individual (starting from 2 persons)

What’s included: Accommodation in hotels listed on website - 14 nights (twin/dbl shared), Meals FB: breakfast at the hotels, lunches and dinners at the local restaurants/hotels, Services for private A/C car with driver per program, Escort English – speaking guide for all days, Domestic air tickets: Mary-Ashgabat, Ashgabat-Dashoguz, Khiva- Tashkent, Entrance fees to the sites listed, Show program in Bukhara, All airport transfers, Mineral water 1.0 L per day/per person, Visa support (letter of invitation Turkmenistan only needed)

What’s not included: International air tickets, Tips and gratuities, Visa consular fees, Porterage, Video and photo charges, Personal expenses, Services not included in the itinerary

Itinerary in brief

Day 1 - Arrival in Tashkent Day 2 - Tashkent City Tour Day 3 - Tashkent - Samarkand Day 4 - Samarkand City Tour Day 5 - Samarkand - Gijduvon - Bukhara Day 6 - Bukhara City Tour Day 7 - Bukhara - Farab - Turkmenabat Day 8 - Mary - Ashgabat Day 9 - Ashgabat City Tour Day 10 - Ashgabat - Dashoguz Day 11 - Dashoguz - Koneurgench - Khiva Day 12 - Khiva - Tashkent Day 13 - Tashkent - Khujand City Tour Day 14 - Khujand - Tashkent Day 15 - Departure

Detailed itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Tashkent After your arrival at Tashkent airport, you'll be met by our company representatives and transferred to the hotel. This day you'll get to know some interesting information about Uzbekistan which is one of the most developed countries of Central Asia. The country is the region's cradle of unique cultural traditions, it attracts with distinctive architectural style, fascinating history connected with the Great Silk Road, rich national cuisine and absolutely exotic for foreigners atmosphere. Dinner will be served in the local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Tashkent Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 - Tashkent City Tour The day will start with a full city tour around the historical capital of Uzbekistan – Tashkent city. With the help of our experienced guides, you’ll reveal lots of curious secrets hidden in this fascinating city. The tour will start with the exploration of the old town. The program includes visits to Khast Imam Complex (where is kept the world oldest Koran), Chorsu bazaar and Madrasah Kukeldash the largest madrasa (educational institution) of the 16th century in Tashkent. After lunch, you will explore the modern part of the city. The program includes visits to the main square of Tashkent (Independent square), A. Navoi theatre square built in 1947 by Japanese prisoners and museums. Amir Timur Museum is dedicated to Mongol warlord Amir and his genealogy. In the Museum of Applied Art of Uzbekistan, you will have a chance to admire over 7,000 samples of applied arts: handmade embroidery, skull-caps, jewellery, carpets and other Uzbek art exhibits. Dinner will be served in the local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Tashkent Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 - Tashkent - Samarkand This day you will have a trip to the world-famous third largest city of Uzbekistan – Samarkand. The journey will take about 2 hours. After arrival, you will check-in at the hotel and have some time for a rest. The history, culture and architecture of Samarkand are really worthy of attention. Being one of the most ancient cities on the earth, this «city of famous shadows» witnessed many historical events and shakes. According to some historical data it was founded in the VII century BC. Your city tour program includes visits to Paper Mills Factory, Afrasiyob Museum and Ulugbek’s observatory which is the biggest one in the East. Dinner will be organized in a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Samarkand Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 - Samarkand City Tour The fourth day is devoted to the full exploration of Samarkand. First, you will see the main square of the city – Registan. Here is located the famous architectural ensemble of three madrasahs (Islamic schools) - the Ulugh Beg Madrasah, the Tilya-Kori Madrasah and the Sher-Dor Madrasah. The next place to visit is the architectural masterpiece of Central Asia - the mausoleum of Gur-e-Amir (also known as Tamerlane). The further program includes visits to Shaki Zinda Necropolis and Bibi-Khanym Mosque. At the central bazaar, you’ll have a chance to enjoy the tastes and aroma of local exotic products. Be sure to buy Samarkand national round bread (non). The bazaar offers bright fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, spices, local snacks, sweet cakes, chill tea, as well as local handicraft. After such a long and exciting day, you will have a nice dinner at the local restaurant and will have a rest at the hotel. Dinner will be organized in a local restaurant.

Overnight: Hotel in Samarkand Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 - Samarkand - Bukhara The tour will start with a trip from Samarkand to Bukhara (280 km, 4 hours) – the other ancient Uzbek town located on the Great Silk Road. The city is a must-visit place due to its rich historical heritage. On the way, we’ll make a short stop to admire the ruins of medieval monument Caravanserai Rabat-i-Malik. Your trip will proceed through Gijduvan town where you will have a nice tour around a local pottery house. In Bukhara, you will visit the Chor Minor memorial and have a rest at the hotel. Dinner will be organized in a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Bukhara Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 - Bukhara City Tour This day you will have a full exploration of Bukhara which is not inferior to Samarkand in terms of the abundance and significance of religious sights and architectural masterpieces. Bukhara is one of the most ancient cities of Central Asia – it is more than 2000 years old. It has been standing under the scorching Asian sun witnessing ruinous wars and glorious times when it was a major commercial centre of the Great Silk Road. Your city tour program will include the following sights: Samanid’s dynasty mausoleum, Chashma Ayub Mausoleum, Bolo Haouz Mosque, the Ark Fortress, Kalon Complex, Magoki Attori Mosque, Ulugbek and Abdulazizi Khan Madrasahs and Lyabi-Khauz Ensemble. The day will end with a pleasant dinner and fashion show – program in old Nodir Devon Begi Madrassah. Dinner will be organized in a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Bukhara Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 - Bukhara - Farab (121 km, 2 hours) - Turkmenabat (32 km, 47 min) After breakfast, you will continue your acquaintance with Bukhara unique sights. This time you will visit the summer palace of Emir Said Mir Mohammed Alim Khan and the museum of Decorative Applied Art. Thus, your full and exciting journey around Uzbekistan will come to its end and you will proceed to your next tour destination –Turkmenistan, one of the less discovered but no less interesting and mysterious countries of Central Asia. Dinner will be organized in a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Turkmenabat Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 - Mary - Ashgabat (373 km) After breakfast, you will travel to Bayramaly city (212 km, 3 hours) located within Mary Province. Here you will have a sightseeing tour around one of the best-preserved oasis-cities of the Great Silk Road - ancient Marv the ruins of which are protected by UNESCO. The origin of Merv is shrouded in secrets, one thing is known for sure - the first written records of it appeared in the VIII-VI centuries BC. Omar Khayyam, Al-Samani, Imamaddin-Isfahani and other great thinkers of the Middle Ages lived and worked here. Your tour program in ancient Merv will include the following sights: Gyz Gala & Oglan Gala (VI-VII), Askhab's complex, Gyaur Gala, Buddhist Complex, Beni Makhan Mosque, Erk Gala, Soltan Gala, Shrine & Pilgrimage Complex of Yusup Hemadani, Soltan Sanjar Mausoleum, Ibn Zeid Mausoleum. Then you will have lunch and later head to the centre of Mary Province – Mary city. There will be a tour program including Mary History Museum, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Gurbanguly Hajji Mosque and the Central Park. When the tour is over you will have a flight to Ashgabat - the capital of Turkmenistan, the largest administrative-political, industrial, scientific and cultural centre of the state. Dinner will be organized in a local restaurant.

Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 - Ashgabat City Tour This day will be devoted to the main sights of Ashgabat city. You will see the beautiful fountain complex of Oguz Han & Sons who was the legendary ancestor of the Turkic peoples, then the main Turkmenian Mosque (Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Metjidi) and Old Nissa ancient settlement. The tour will proceed to the Archabil Shayoly Avenue founded in 2004; now it hosts the majority of Turkmenistan's ministry and departmental offices. You will see the Monument to the Turkmenistan Constitution - the second-tallest building in the whole country. It is decorated with marble and inside it hosts a museum, a conference room, a library, a gift shop and a cafeteria. After such a rich in impressions start you will need to take a lunch break and have a rest. Later your second part of the city tour will start. In the National Carpet Museum, you'll learn the history and ornaments of Turkmen carpets. The next impressive place to visit is Gulistan Bazaar which comprises of the big roofed hall where on the ground floor vegetables, fruits, spices, dried fruits, nuts, honey, etc. are sold. After a tasty dinner in one of the local restaurants you will have a nice drive along the main streets of Ashgabat – you will have a chance to enjoy the modern architectural masterpieces of the night city, one of which is the Palace of Happiness - a three-step structure crowned by a cube with a ball with a diameter of 32 meters displaying the map of Turkmenistan. Dinner will be organized in a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Ashgabat Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 - Ashgabat - Dashoguz (600 km) This day you will proceed with the exploration of Ashgabat. First, you will have some time for shopping in the fifth-largest oriental bazaar in Central Asia - Altyn Asyr. Whatever you may desire is sold here – national carpets of centuries-old techniques, jewellery made of silver, inlaid with a carnelian stone, national costumes and handicrafts, as well as snacks, fruits, vegetables and much more. Next, you will visit the Hippodrome of Ashgabat to watch the Sunday Horse Race which is free to enter for all. Your sightseeing tour will start after lunch and will include the National Museum of History, Memorial Complex with Monuments for Victims of the 2nd World War, the Park of Independence. The day will end with a flight to Dashoguz town. Dinner will be organized in a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Dashoguz Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 - Dashoguz - Koneurgench - Khiva The day will start with a morning trip to Koneurgench city (96 km, 1 hour 30 min), the centre of Khorezm Region. Here you will have a sightseeing tour including Turabek Hanum Mausoleum, Kutlug Timur Minaret, Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum, Academy of Horezm, Il Arslan Mausoleum, Mamun Minaret, Mausoleums of Najm Ed Din & Soltan Ali. After the tour, you will return to Dashoguz for having lunch and rest. This day you will have a transfer to the border with Uzbekistan and after passing the customs your trip will proceed to Khiva (165 km, 2 hours 30 min), which is a historical city of the Great Silk Road. Your dinner and overnight will be in Khiva. Dinner will be organized in a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Khiva Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 - Khiva - Tashkent (996 km) The day will be devoted to the exploration of Khiva town and its historical sights. The must-visit place is its unique Ichan Kala inner town which once served as a resting place for caravans following by the Silk Road to Iran. You will have a chance to walk along its ancient streets and feel the atmosphere of past decades. The town is protected by UNESCO. This district hosts such sights as the madrasah of Muhammad Amin-khan, Kelta Minar, Kunya Ark, madrasah of Muhammad Rakhimkhan. After lunch, your tour will continue to Pakhlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Islam Khodja Minaret and Madrasah, Djuma Mosque and Minaret, and Tash Hovli Palace. The day will end with a flight to Tashkent. Dinner will be organized in a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Tashkent Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 - Tashkent - Khujand City Tour (167 km, 2 hours 30 min) The day will start with a trip to the border with Tajikistan for a 2-day sightseeing tour. Our first destination is ancient Khujand city – the second largest one in the country. After check-in at the hotel, the city tour will start. You will learn many interesting facts about one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. It was conquered by Alexander the Great who further rebuilt and fortified it. Now it is a well-developed city with renovated buildings, parks, well-maintained roads and sights. You will have a saturated tour around the city which will end with a great dinner accompanied with a show program. Dinner will be organized in a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Khujand Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14 - Khujand - Tashkent (167 km, 2 hours 30 min) This is the second day of sightseeing around Khujand. You will explore Timurmalik fortress, see the artefacts in Archeology and History museums and bargain at the local Panjshanbe Bazaar. The last sight undoubtedly worth your attention – it's probably the most colourful place in the city. First, we should mention its outstanding architectural style designed in the 20th century. The interior combines both Oriental and Soviet styles. It's a must-visit for all those who want to plunge into a real oriental atmosphere, feel the exotic aromas and get in touch with friendly locals. The bazaar offers both national products and other goodies like clothes, household items etc. After shopping, you will make a stop by Sheikh Muslihiddin Masque and Mausoleum, Museum of Archaeology and Respiration. This your tour will end. With great impressions, you’ll start preparing for your departure for the next day. Dinner will be organized in a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Tashkent Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15 - Departure Transfer to the airport, departure.

Booking terms

Booking process Once you have chosen the tour and travel date, push Book now button at your chosen date, fill necessary fields and send us an inquiry. Alternatively use contact from from contact us page in About us menu tab. Once we have received your inquiry, confirmed all tour details with you, we send deposit invoice. After the deposit is received (500 euro per person), we start your hotel, train, air tickets reservations and send your Tour Voucher with all the trip details.

Payment process Tour payment is divided into 2 parts: 1. Deposit, 2. Final payment. 1. Deposit amount is 500 euro per person. Once you prepaid the deposit, it is fully refundable for a month. After month deposit becomes non refundable. Deposit is paid via bank transfer, your tour manager provides deposit payment invoice with full bank details. We need deposit to start your hotel, guide, vehicle, domestic flights and train ticket booking. 2. Final payment is done via bank transfer (15 working days prior to tour start) or cash (upon arrival before tour start). Both cases your tour manager provides you electronic or paper invoice. We reserve the right to cancel your tour and apply the relevant cancellation charges (detailed below) if we do not receive all payments at the due time.

Tour Cancellation If you or your group member cancels the tour, please make sure to let us know in a month after deposit is paid. Note, the deposit is non-refundable, however, you can use it throughout the year and book another tour. In this case, train and domestic flight ticket fees only will be charged a cancellation fee.

Rights and obligations Tours provided by our company are planned for many months before its inception and are not the subject of change or cancellation. Under the obligation of forced circumstances (weather, holidays) we can make some changes to the itinerary, however, all that relates to services and attractions will remain unchanged. Please note that our tours require a minimum number of participants – 2 persons. We reserve the right to cancel the trip with full refund or deposit paid, if the tour booked by you do not have the minimum number of participants. We inform you about the cancellation of the tour no later than 30 days before the start. We also request immediately and promptly report all complaints and any claims during the tour. If possible, all problems will be solved. If the tourist does not report any complaint, the compensation will not be implemented. Note AraraTour Central Asia is not liable for services not included in the tour price. Our responsibility is limited only to the extent provided by our tour. Force majeure or any other event which is beyond our control and which is not preventable by reasonable diligence on our part frees both parties from liability or obligation. In case of Force majeure, we don’t issue any refund.

Insolvency or bankruptcy insurance AraraTour Central Asia guarantees the refund of clients’ money for unfulfilled services even in the case of company’s own insolvency or bankruptcy.